Boundaries (barriers) protect the human body from the environment. So-called barrier organs like the mouth, lungs, skin and intestines protect humans internally from penetration by harmful substances that may occur in the air or food. Inflammatory diseases are the result of this boundary no longer functioning properly. The human body reacts initially through defence mechanisms and if these prove insufficient and the inflammation persists, then chronic diseases ensue, such as Crohn's disease, asthma or neurodermitis. Inflammatory diseases appear to be a phenomenon of modern civilization, given their increasing prevalence.

Biological barriers, which originated in simple marine organisms, are vital to human health. They function either passively (e.g., in bacterial cell walls) or actively, in that a gradient is produced. They often take on important functions, for example, detoxification is carried out in the kidneys.

Biological barriers, which originated in simple marine organisms, are vital to human health. They function either passively (e.g., in bacterial cell walls) or actively, in that a gradient is produced. They often take on important functions, for example, detoxification is carried out in the kidneys.

Contact

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• Prof. Philip Rosenstiel

  Institution:

  Institut für Klinische Molekularbiologie

  Phone:

  +49 431 597-4268

  E-mail:

  p.rosenstiel@mucosa.de

• Prof. Stefan Schreiber

  Institution:

  Institut für Klinische Molekularbiologie

  Phone:

  +49 431 597-2350

  E-mail:

  s.schreiber@mucosa.de

• Prof. Julie LaRoche

  Institution:

  Leibniz-Institut für Meereswissenschaften (IFM-GEOMAR)

  Phone:

  +49 431 600-4212

  E-mail:

  jlaroche@ifm-geomar.de